Rainmeter

 Rainmeter takes the Windows 7 Sidebar Gadgets idea and extends it to the whole desktop. A free download from www.rainmeter.net, it enables you to integrate all kinds of useful system information, along with RSS feeds and Twitter updates.

The notification

Windows7 likes to keep you informed about the state of your security settings, but you might not want to know about every single thing that crops up. Go to the Action Center, accessed via “Start|Control Panel|System and Security” and you can alter what windows badgers you about-including the fact that UAC is disabled. Just don’t think that turning off warnings about inadequate antivirus protection is a good idea……

User Account Image

Customizing your user account image is a great way to differentiate quickly between multiple accounts on a single PC. Windows7 comes with selection of image to choose from – just to “Start|control panel|User accounts and family safety|Change your account picture”. The browse for more pictures’ link at the bottom of his window also enables you to choose one of your own images and windows will automatically re size it to suit.

Shut down Computer

Thankfully, the excessively complex shutdown option on Windows Vista’s start menu has been streamlined in Windows 7, but Microsoft has also changed the default power button behavior from ‘sleep’ to a full shutdown. If you want to change it back, right-click the start button, choose ‘Properties’ and select your preferred option from the ‘Power button action’ drop down list.

Windows desktop themes

Customising the colour scheme of Windows 7 is one thing, but how about more drastic changes? Right-click the desktop, then choose ‘Personalize’ and you can change the entire interface theme-the desktop sounds and mouse pointers. A handful of themes are installed by default, but click the ‘Get more themes on line’ link and you can download others for free.